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aCropalypse vulnerability can recover sensitive information previously removed from Pixel screenshots
A newly revealed vulnerability could reveal previously redacted details from screenshots if the edits were made using a Pixel device.
A new vulnerability was revealed by researchers Simon Aarons and David Buchanan that allows previously redacted details to be reclaimed, if the screenshots were taken and changes were made, using the markup editing tool found on Google Pixel devices. While the issue has been addressed in the latest March security patch, the problem still remains in all the images and screenshots that were shared over the years prior to this patch.
Windows PCs will soon act as an AirPlay-like audio receiver for your Android phone
Microsoft's Phone Link app on Windows is getting the ability to stream Android audio, just like how Macs can act as an Airplay receiver for iPhones.
The Phone Link app on Windows is getting an interesting new feature soon. Similar to the ability to use your Mac device as an Airplay receiver for an iOS device, it'll soon be possible for you to stream your Android phone's audio over to Windows 11 with Phone Link.
NVIDIA Shield TV update 9.0.2 rolls out with a ton of bug fixes
NVIDIA Shield TV update 9.0.2 update is rolling out to all Shield devices, and it has a ton fo bug fixes in tow. Check out the changelog!
Back in January, NVIDIA officially released Shield Experience 9.0.0 to all of its TV devices — including the original 2015 model. This update saw devices upgraded to Android TV 11 while also bringing in support for the next generation of GeForce NOW cloud gaming in 4K HDR. However, just like most major software updates, it introduced several bugs that have been affecting various functionalities. The advent of Shield Experience 9.0.1 was supposed to wrap up all of those bugs, but more still remained. Now Shield Experience 9.0.2 is rolling out, patching even more bugs than last time.
LineageOS 18.1 is now available for the original Google Pixel and Pixel XL
Official builds of LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 are now available for the original Google Pixel and Pixel XL. Read on to learn more.
After releasing LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 for the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite, Moto G100, and Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (LTE) late last month, the LineageOS team has added three more devices to the LineageOS 18.1 build roster. Official builds of LinageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 are now available for the original Google Pixel, Pixel XL, and the Redmi Note 8/Redmi Note 8T.
Unofficial LineageOS 18.1 brings Android TV 11 to the third-gen Amazon Fire TV Stick lineup
You can now unlock the bootloader of your third-gen Amazon Fire TV Stick, flash a custom recovery, install Android TV 11 and much more!
When it comes to streaming dongles, Amazon Fire TV Sticks are some of the most popular streaming devices on the market. Amazon maintains its own fork of Android called Fire OS for these devices, which lacks Google apps and has a completely different UI than Google’s Android TV OS. If you own a 3rd generation Fire TV Stick or its Lite variant and aren’t satisfied with the out-of-the-box software experience, you can now swap the Amazon firmware for the source-built Android 11 ROM and enjoy the vanilla Android TV experience.
Google was working on a radically different "At A Glance" widget that never saw the light of day
Google was internally working on a radically different At A Glance widget that never saw the light of day. Read on to learn more.
With the Pixel 6 series, Google introduced a redesigned At A Glance widget. The updated widget can show your calendar events, your flight boarding pass, workout stats, and more. But it appears, there was an even more powerful and smarter version of the At A Glance widget in the works, which unfortunately never saw the light of day.
LineageOS 18.1 adds support for the OnePlus 9, Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G, and more
LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 is now available for the OnePlus 9, ASUS ZenFone Max M1, Mi 10 Lite 5G, and Xiaomi Mi A1.
After bringing LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 to the ASUS ROG Phone 3, Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium, Redmi Note 6 Pro, and more in November last year, the LineageOS team has now extended official LineageOS 18.1 support to a few more Android devices.
Surface Duo finally receives Android 11 update after missing original 2021 target
The Surface Duo Android 11 update is finally rolling out, after Microsoft originally promised it would appear before the end of 2021.
The original Microsoft Surface Duo shipped with Android 10 out of the box, and the phone's software experience was famously buggy. Microsoft rolled out a few fixes in the months after release, but the company eventually shifted its resources to bringing the Surface Duo 2's updated software (based on Android 11) to the original model. After missing its original deadline, the first Surface Duo finally has its Android 11 update.
Nvidia officially releases Android TV 11 for Shield TV
After quietly publishing (and then deleting) the recovery image, Nvidia has officially released its Android TV 11 update for the Shield.
Nvidia is probably best known for its graphics cards, but the company has also sold set-top boxes powered by Android TV under the 'Shield' name since 2015. Even though Nvidia has refreshed the hardware a few times since then (and made a separate stick model), all Shield TV devices are still supported by software updates. Now the company is rolling out Android TV 11 to all Shield TV products, including the original 2015 model.
Microsoft Surface Duo might skip to Android 12L after its Android 11 update
A new report claims the original Microsoft Surface Duo might skip to Android 12L, after the long-awaited Android 11 upgrade is available.
The original Microsoft Surface Duo shipped with Android 10 out of the box, and even though that phone is over a year old at this point (and Android 12 is widely available), it's still on Android 10. Thankfully, according to a report from Windows Central, the phone's update situation should improve soon.
A bizarre Microsoft Teams bug is preventing some Android users from making emergency calls
A Microsoft Teams bug is preventing users running Android 10 and above from making emergency calls. Read on.
A rather bizarre bug is preventing some Android users in the US from calling emergency services. The issue was brought to attention after a Pixel 3 user found this bug in the middle of a medical emergency. Google says it's aware of the issue and a fix is on the way.
Nokia 9 PureView owners will get a discount on a budget phone instead of Android 11
HMD Global has confirmed the Nokia 9 PureView won't be updated to Android 11, but owners of the phone can get a discount on another phone.
The Nokia 9 PureView was one of the first flagship phones produced by HMD Global with Nokia branding, packed with a Snapdragon 845 chipset and five rear cameras. However, like most other Nokia phones, it was slow to receive updates. HMD has now confirmed the phone won't get Android 11, but the company is offering a consolation prize: a discount on a budget phone.
TWRP 3.6.0 released with support for devices that launched with Android 11
TWRP 3.6.0 is here, and it finally brings support for Android 11. The new release also improves the installation process. Check it out!
Team Win Recovery Project, or TWRP for short, has been around for several years now and it has grown to become the go-to option for the Android community to replace the stock recovery on their devices with a more advanced and feature-rich substitute. For most users, installing any kind of aftermarket software modification, whether it be a custom ROM, custom kernel, Magisk, or other tool, requires the use of TWRP. The custom recovery is open source and it supports hundreds of devices. Today, the project has been bumped to version 3.6.0, bringing Android 11 support, many improvements in decryption, new features, a whole lot of newly supported devices, and a major change to the way TWRP is installed.
Xiaomi is testing MIUI 13 internally, with Android 11 and Android 12 bases
Xiaomi has started testing MIUI 13 internally. Build numbers of the internal beta releases suggest that it's based on Android 11 and Android 12.
Xiaomi is gearing up to unveil its next flagship smartphone lineup in December. Recent leaks suggest that the lineup will include a device named Xiaomi 12X (codename psyche), featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 chipset, a 50MP primary camera, and a 6.28-inch FHD+ AMOLED display. Now, a new leak suggests that the device could launch with MIUI 13 out of the box.
Fairphone 2 passes six years of software updates with new Android 10 beta
The Fairphone 2 from 2015 will soon get Android 10, making it one of the longest (officially) supported Android devices of all time.
Fairphone was founded in 2013 as a more sustainable smartphone manufacturer, with the goal of producing long-lasting smartphones without conflict materials. The Fairphone 4 was just released, but the company hasn't forgotten about its earlier models, and now the Fairphone 2 from 2015 is receiving another major Android update.
This app brings back the more useful power menu from Android 11 on Android 12 devices
If you're not happy with Android 12's power menu, you can now try an app named "Classic Power Menu" to bring back the Android 11-style again.
Android’s power menu has seen a fair few design changes over the years. Unless you follow a tech blog like XDA, the changes are a bit hard to keep track of — at least before the Android 11 update — mainly because this is one area that OEMs customize to suit their own design aesthetic.
OxygenOS 11.1.1.1 for the OnePlus 6/6T brings September 2021 security patches and bug fixes
OnePlus is rolling out another OxygenOS 11 stable update for the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T with bug fixes and September 2021 security patches.
OnePlus rolled out the first OxygenOS 11 stable update for the OnePlus 6 and 6T in August this year. The update bumped the devices to Android 11, included Android security patches for July 2021, and introduced a handful of feature enhancements. However, users who updated to this build reportedly faced severe battery drain issues and other glitches on their devices. OnePlus is now rolling out another stable OxygenOS 11 update for the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T to address these bugs.
ASUS is opening up a closed beta program for the ROG Phone II's Android 11 update
The ASUS ROG Phone II will have a closed beta program for Android 11, so that users can test it out before its official release.
If you have an ASUS ROG Phone II, you can sign up for the ASUS beta program to experience Android 11 before everyone else. The ROG Phone II was released in 2019 with Android 9 Pie, received an update to Android 10 last year, and is expected to get Android 11 soon. With the ROG Phone II, the company also beta tested the Android 10 update before rolling it out to the masses, and it did have a handful of bugs, though that's obviously to be expected. Just like back then, ASUS says that the Android 11 beta program is not for someone who is "expecting a trouble free experience".
LineageOS 18.1 brings Android 11 to Chromecast with Google TV, Walmart Onn and Dynalink Android TV boxes
Owners of the Chromecast with Google TV, Walmart Onn and Dynalink Android TV boxes can get a taste of Android 11 thanks to LineageOS 18.1.
Walmart’s Onn and Dynalink Android TV boxes are two of the best Android TV streaming devices available in the US. They both cost less than $50 and offer a whole range of features, including 4K HDR support and great remotes. What they both lack, however, is the latest version of Android TV. We don't know when, if ever, these devices will get updated to Android 11. The good news is that it's possible to get the latest version of Android up and running on these devices thanks to an unofficial LineageOS port.
Android 11's auto-reset permissions feature is coming to older OS versions
Google is bringing Android 11’s auto-reset permissions feature to all devices running Android 6.0 through Android 10. Here's what this means.
With Android 11, Google introduced auto-revoking permissions that barred unused apps from accessing sensitive permissions granted by the user. While this privacy feature currently remains exclusive to Android 11 and above devices, it will soon be trickling down to older versions of Android — all the way back to Android 6.0.